Everything you need to know about simple seasonal hair loss as well as the most effective hair loss treatments.
Dr. Efi Markou talks to Harper's BAZAAR Magazine!
Seasonal hair loss during the autumn months is a normal phenomenon that follows the hair's biological cycle. The daily renewal of our hair occurs with the fall of 100-150 hairs. With age, hair spends less time in the growth phase. In female pattern hair loss there are indications that hair follicles remain in the resting phase longer. Dermatologist Efi Markou clearly answers the most frequently asked questions about hair loss.
What is the difference between hair loss and simple seasonal hair loss?
When hair loss persists for weeks and we lose more than 100 hairs a day, we may be suffering from acute telogen effluvium. Noxious events three to six months before hair loss precipitate large numbers of hair follicles into the telogen phase. Hair loss after COVID-19 illness is a form of telogen tricorrhea. Systemic diseases, medications, stress, weight loss, childbirth, iron deficiency can seriously affect the intensity of hair loss (Source: Hair Disorders Diagnosis and Management Professor. Alexander C. Katoulis et al c. 2021).
In what ways can hair loss be effectively treated?
Healthy hair needs daily nourishment with vitamins, minerals and trace elements. In the summer months, the hairs become dehydrated and thinner, therefore they break more easily. A visit to the specialist dermatologist can provide a lot of information about the type of hair loss that concerns each patient. The specialized examinations carried out are the trichoscopy and the digital phototrichorisogram. These are non-invasive diagnostic methods that provide important information about the life cycle and health of the hair. A complete three-point treatment includes a bath routine, topical treatment (lotion, foam, and oil) and nutritional supplementation (vitamins, minerals, medications). The dermatologist's advice on the appropriate choice of medicine and cosmetics, special shampoos and care products reduces the cost of inappropriate treatment and maximizes the result.
What's new in treating persistent hair loss?
Local treatment is enhanced when the opening of micropores is preceded (fractional radio frequency technology, or microneedling), where therapeutic substances, such as
biotin, minoxidil, dutasteride or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), penetrate deeper into the scalp. An ideal PRP regimen is: 3+3 sessions, once a month for a quarter and then once every two months for a six month period.